Is it selfish to wish to live as old as possible?

[GarryA]

Checking out at 65 would do me, if it meant I could retire at 45.

[scenario8]

So let's call that a minimum of 16 years of economic non-productivity, then 29 years productivity, then a further 20 years non-productivity.

You'd be making some healthy pension provision in those 29 years.

[deeps]

gamefreaks said:

deeps said:

gamefreaks said:

Well how long do people actually want to live???

Lets face it, if you haven't seen and done everything you wanted by the time you are 60-70, then what have you been playing at???

They sound like the words of a young man?

One of my mates uncle is 82, still works 5 days a week in a garage doing body repairs and spraying. I walked in the other day and he was under a transit van beating the crap out of a floor panel with a lump hammer! Still goes round the pubs in town a few times a week, and goes to lots of car meets etc, still very enthusiastic about life.

There's still lots of things he wants to see and do.

Yes, they are the words of a young man. (26 to be precise)

By the time I reach 60-odd, my kids will (hopefully) be getting on with their lives, so my work here will be done so to speak.

Anyway, what exactly am I going to live on when I get there? People my age have to make a fairly bleak choice. Either save for a house, or save for retirement. Unless you are earning £70k PA or more or have a decent inheritance coming your way, you will not be able to afford to put meaningful amounts into both.

While I am sure you can wring out every last minute from life, let’s face it, all you are doing is extending the years where your hips are fked, teeth are in a glass on the bedside table, limp dick, and can't piss properly and can't control your continence. All in poverty.

No thanks!

Trouble is, you're trying to put a 26 year old brain in to a 70 year old body, of course you're going to think like that. I would bet any amount that you will not want to die whan you're 70, quite the opposite, infact you could be having the time of your life, just in a different way than a 26 year old would.

I used to think 70 sounded old, but my parents are now 62 and 65 and I don't see them as any older than when they were 40, and yes they're having just as much reward from life now than they ever did, and there's no reason why they won't for another 20 years.

[dandarez]

Silver993tt said:

crankedup said:

This is possibly the most depressing thread yet on P.H. We need the older generation, be reasonable and think about it seriously for one moment! Just imagine if we had no longer required life prolonging pills and treatments, the stock values in Medical Research would fall through the floor! That is a good enough reason to hang onto old agers is it not

exactly. I have great respect for those that are older than me becuse in the majority of cases they will have greater experience of life/work/travel. That's invaluable to be passed onto others.

Most sensible thing I've read on PH for a while. 'Experience' has become vastly underrated in the last 30 years.
Mess with it... at the peril of all.

Edit to add ...and not just because I'm older than I feel.

You'll find out (when 'you' get older) that is true, too.

Edited by dandarez on Friday 31st December 22:51